100 `Undaunted` Jews Head For Israel

Undeterred by the violence and the threat of more on the horizon, a group of some 100 American Jews left on Thursday for a seven-day trip to Israel dubbed Operation Undaunted.

Organized by the American Jewish Committee, the trip has a twofold purpose of enabling the visitors to gather firsthand information on the Palestinian uprising, the Gulf crisis and the Soviet immigration policy and also to promote tourism to that country.

One of the travelers is Richard Davimos, chairman of the committee`s South Central Area Chapter and a Boca Raton resident.

Davimos said he was led to go out of agreement that Israel`s tourism -- its third-largest industry -- needed a boost in light of the number of cancellations of trips by American Jews to that country, including many planned by South Floridians.

Reportedly, those cancellations have resulted in large-scale layoffs in the Israeli travel industry and the temporary closing of some hotels.

The itinerary in Israel includes discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, members of Knesset, two military security briefings and meetings with Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs and Jewish and Palestinian residents of the West Bank.

David Harris, executive vice president of the American Jewish Committee, called the response to the trip remarkable. The travelers are going at their own expense, which is approximately $1,400.

``Within a matter of a few weeks, we had 115 people signed up,`` he said. ``The response was far beyond our wildest expectations.``

Some people are even bringing their grandchildren, he said. The trip is taking place on Israel`s El Al airlines, noted for its strict security measures.

``By ourselves, we cannot reverse the dramatic decline in travel to Israel,`` Harris said. ``On the other hand, we can do as much as we can to make a statement, to express solidarity with the people of Israel who feel increasingly isolated.

``It`s understandable that they feel increasingly isolated when American Jews and others cancel their trips there. It`s another source of hurt and pain. In a small way, we hope this can help.``

In fact, Harris calls travel to Israel a moral imperative at this time.

``There are times in life when one is presented with moral and ethical choices; it`s morally and ethically important to travel to Israel,`` he said.

Such trips to show support of Israel in troubled times are nothing novel. In the wake of terrorist attacks on Middle East-bound airplanes and the Italian luxury liner Achille Lauro in 1985 and 1986, South Florida rabbis participated in a trip to Israel called Project Independence, in which Israeli officials urged the spiritual leaders to promote tourism while they addressed terrorism.

The U.S. State Department has issued no specific travel advisory for Israel but has issued one for the Middle East in general.

A travel advisory has been issued for the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Visitors to these areas are urged to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate immediately upon arrival in the Middle East.

The State Department`s message on Israel reminds visitors of the possibility of hostile actions because unstable conditions.

Anti-American and anti-Western sentiments are being expressed through pamphlets that are being issued in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.